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Rio Tinto Limited (RIO) is an international mining company with operations in Australia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia

Investment Thesis

  • One of the largest miners in the world with a competitive cost structure.
  • Tier 1 assets globally, which are difficult to replicate. 
  • Highly cash generative assets with attractive free cash flow profile. 
  • Shareholder return focused – ongoing capital management initiatives.  
  • Commodities price surprises on the upside (potential China stimulus to combat Coronavirus impact). 
  • Strong balance sheet position.
  • Electrification and light-weighting trends in the automobile industry provide long-term growth runway for aluminum demand.

Key Risks

  • Further deterioration in global macroeconomic conditions.
  • Deterioration in global iron ore/aluminum supply & demand equation.
  • Production delay or unscheduled site shutdown.
  • Natural disasters such as Tropical Cyclone Veronica.
  • Unfavorable movements in AUD/USD.
  • Company not achieving its productivity gain targets. 

Key Highlights 

  • Revenue of $29,775m, down -10%. 
  • Underlying EBITDA of $15,597m, down -26%.  
  • Free cash flow of $7,146m, down -30%.
  • The Board declared a dividend of 276cps, down -29% and no special dividend (relative to 185cps in the pcp). This equated to 50% of underlying earnings, in line with RIO’s shareholder returns policy, and consistent with the Company’s policy of paying out 50% on the ordinary interim dividend.
  • Iron ore: Underlying EBITDA of $10.4bn was 35% lower, due to lower prices ($5.7bn), following the 26% decline in the monthly average Platts index for 62% iron fines adjusted to an FOB basis. Higher cash costs were offset by increased sales portside in China. 
  • Aluminum: Underlying EBITDA of $2.9866bn, was up +49%, due to higher product premiums for primary metal and a stronger pricing environment for primary metal and alumina; however according to management, this was partly offset by higher input costs for key materials such as caustic soda, coke, pitch and anodes, leading to an increase in cash costs for alumina and primary metal.
  • Copper: Underlying EBITDA fell -27% to $1.487m on lower refined copper at Kennecott and by product sales volumes, particularly lower gold in concentrate at Oyu Tolgoi, consequently resulting in associated fixed cost inefficiencies. 
  • Minerals: Underlying EBITDA of $1.259m was -10% lower due to higher cash costs, energy price increases and lower volumes, partially offset by higher EBITDA in relation to the increased ownership in Diavik. 

Company Description

Rio Tinto Limited (RIO) is an international mining company with operations in Australia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia. RIO has interests in mining for aluminum, borax, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, silver, tin, uranium, zinc, titanium dioxide feedstock and diamonds.  

(Source: Banyantree)

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